Hazard and operability study

A hazard and operability study (also known as a HAZOP study) is a way of looking at a particular process or activity (like making a sandwich) to make sure that it is safe. We do this by looking at each element of the process and making sure it is safe. So, for example, if we are making a sandwich, we need to make sure that the ingredients aren't spoiled, the knives used to cut the ingredients are sharp and safe to use, and that the work surface is clean and won't make the sandwich unsafe to eat. So, by taking each part of the process in turn, we can make sure that it is safe and that it will work the way it is supposed to.